Let Joy Be Unconfined: A 10ft+ Statue Of Billy Graham Is Coming To DC

GAZING at a small clay model of what will eventually become a 10ft 10in tall statue of his father, Franklin Graham declared:’I like that it’s simple and my father has an open Bible in his hand – that’s what his life was all about … it looks like he’s staring at you, sharing the Bible with his eyes open. The sculptor has done a remarkable job.’

Then two people went and pissed on Frankie’s parade by commenting beneath a Religious News Service report about the statue, created by Chas Fagan:

Good to see a preacher who welcomed the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision that declared women have a right to choose abortion.

And:

The words Christian and Billy Graham should never be in the same sentence.

Come on guys, there’s a positive aspect to this report.

RNS said Billy-boy will be replacing a statue of a white supremacist that both the state of North Carolina and the US House want removed from the National Statuary Hall Collection.

The U.S. Capitol, Statuary Hall collection consists of 100 statues of prominent people — two from each state. Graham, a North Carolina native who was born on a dairy farm in Charlotte, will take the place of Charles Aycock, right, (1859-1912), a former governor.

Aycock was one of the masterminds of the 1898 Wilmington, North Carolina, race riot and coup, in which a local government made up of Black Americans was overthrown and replaced by white officials. North Carolina’s other statue is of Zebulon Vance (1830-1894), a former governor and U.S. senator who was also a Confederate military officer.

The other positive news is that the thing, due to be installed “sometime next year,” won’t cost taxpayers a dime. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in partnership with the state, is raising money for the statue and its installation — which is estimated to cost $650,000. You can chip in here, or – better still – buy me a coffee.

Said Dr David Bruce, one of the seven North Carolina Statuary Hall Committee members who got to see the two-foot-tall clay model up close.

It’s the most magnificent representation of Mr. Graham. He’s leaning forward, almost standing on his toes but not quite, leading with his left foot, and he’s in a preaching mode but it’s an inviting mode. He is compelling people to the truth.

It makes a statement the moment you see it You know he’s a preacher of the Gospel.

Two features of the model that stood out to Bruce were the hands and the eyes.

[Chas Fagan] captured the warmth of Mr. Graham’s eyes.

Bruce would know. He served the evangelist for more than 20 years at Graham’s Montreat, North Carolina, office as well as his home. Bruce’s wife, Kerri, served as Ruth Bell Graham’s assistant. The two couples shared a close friendship that lasted: